- Archbishop Martin: “Now is a time for synodality: for walking together, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another. Baptised and Sent in Lent, our new Lenten resource, reminds us that synodality begins with baptism, which unites us and sends us out in hope to renew both Church and society.”
From tomorrow, Ash Wednesday- the start of the season of Lent, faithful are invited to journey with a new set of weekly prayer and reflection resources inspired by Baptised and Sent, the preparatory document for Ireland’s National Pre-Synodal Assembly, which took place last October.
According to Julieann Moran, General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway, “Rooted in the conviction that baptism is the foundation of human dignity, identity and mission, Baptised and Sent in Lent seeks to encourage participants to pause, reflect on the Gospel, listen to one another, and take concrete action in their local communities. Designed for use in a wide range of settings, they offer a simple weekly structure built around shared reflection rather than lectures or debate.
“Each week in Lent Baptised and Sent explores themes such as belonging, healing, renewal and mission – drawing on its vision of baptism as ‘the entry point to a life of faith, a gateway to mission, and the root and foundation on which to build a Christian life.’ The aim is to place baptism at the centre of renewal efforts within the Church in Ireland, while also engaging real questions of hope, participation and responsibility in today’s world.”
Ms Moran concluded, “Lent is a season when many people are already seeking renewal and asking deeper questions about faith and purpose. Baptised and Sent in Lent responds to that desire by creating spaces of listening and encounter, helping communities rediscover baptism not as an abstract concept, but as a lived calling to hope, service and responsibility in today’s world.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, described the initiative as timely, saying, “Now is a time for synodality: for walking together, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another. Baptised and Sent in Lent reminds us that synodality begins with baptism, which unites us and sends us out in hope to renew both Church and society.
“Through these Lenten reflections, people from all walks of life – lay, religious and ordained – are encouraged to rediscover their shared identity as God’s people, and to take practical steps, individually and collectively, towards living out our baptismal calling more deeply. It is my profound hope that this prayerful initiative will open hearts to renewal this Lent and help prepare our communities for the next phase of Ireland’s synodal journey, toward the Church’s National Assembly, that will take place this October.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- The programme is primarily designed as an in-person gathering in parishes and local groups. However, for those unable to attend physically, a series of livestreamed sessions will be held via Zoom featuring guest hosts from across the synodal pathway:
– Thursday, 26 February – Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, assisted by Janet Forbes
– Thursday, 5 March – Fr Declan Hurley of Meath, Chairperson of the National Synodal Team
– Thursday, 12 March – Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick, Episcopal Member of the National Synodal Team
– Thursday, 19 March – Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore, Episcopal Member of the National Synodal Team
https://zoom.us/meeting/
- Lent 2026 will run from Ash Wednesday 18 February until the Easter Triduum on Holy Thursday, 2 April. For Christians, Lent is the time of preparation for Easter and it commemorates Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the desert before He began His public ministry.
- During Lent – through prayer, sacrifice and charity – we are called to renew our Christian life in preparation for Easter:
– Sacrifice (penance) is an essential part of the lives of all Christ’s faithful. It arises from the Lord’s call to conversion and repentance. Christians undertake penance: in memory of the Passion and death of Jesus; as a sharing in Christ’s suffering; as an expression of inner conversion; as a form of reparation for sin.
– Charity: During Lent many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence (traditionally known as almsgiving), the money saved from this can be donated to charity, for example, contributing to their Trócaire box (see Trocaire.org).